Responsibilities of the Radiation Safety Officer

Federal Laws

Atomic Energy Act:

The Atomic Energy Act is the fundamental U.S. law on both the civilian and the military uses of nuclear materials. On the civilian side, it provides for both the development and the regulation of the uses of nuclear materials and facilities in the United States, declaring the policy that "the development, use, and control of atomic energy shall be directed so as to promote world peace, improve the general welfare, increase the standard of living, and strengthen free competition in private enterprise." The Act requires that civilian uses of nuclear materials and facilities be licensed, and it empowers the NRC to establish by rule or order, and to enforce, such standards to govern these uses as "the Commission may deem necessary or desirable in order to protect health and safety and minimize danger to life or property." Commission action under the Act must conform to the Act’s procedural requirements, which provide an opportunity for hearings and Federal judicial review in many instances

10 C.F.R. Chapter 1

Governs the handling, storage, and disposal of radioactive materials.  See the General Statement of Policy and Procedures for NRC Enforcement Actions (July 1995) at Appendix C to 10 C.F.R. Part 2.  This guide is useful for responding to notice of violations.  The training requirements for all individuals who, in the course of employment, are likely to receive an occupation dose in excess of 100 mrem (1 mSv) in a one-year period are set forth at 10 C.F.R. § 19.12.  This law also has reporting requirements (10 C.F.R. § 19.13, § 20.1101 and § 2203) as well as license requirements.

NRC Regulations Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) was created as an independent agency by Congress in 1974 to enable the nation to safely use radioactive materials for beneficial civilian purposes while ensuring that people and the environment are protected. The NRC regulates commercial nuclear power plants and other uses of nuclear materials, such as in nuclear medicine, through licensing, inspection and enforcement of its requirements.

The NRC requires proper recordkeeping and disposal of all radioactive materials. A damaged or broken sign could require an expensive clean up. Schools with these signs are considered a general licensee for NRC purposes and are required to follow these rules:

• must NOT remove the labeling or radioactive symbol, or abandon a sign;
• must properly dispose of an unused sign (see below);
• must report to the NRC or the appropriate Agreement State any lost, stolen or broken signs;
• must inform the NRC or an Agreement State of a name change, change of address or replacement of a general licensee’s designated representative;
• must NOT give away or sell the sign to another individual, company or institution unless the device is to remain in use at its original intended location; in such a case, the transferor is to notify the recipient of the regulatory requirements and must notify the NRC or Agreement State of the transfer within 30 days.

Tritium EXIT signs must NOT be disposed of as normal trash. To dispose of a sign properly, a general licensee must transfer the sign to a specific licensee. This would typically be a manufacturer, distributor, licensed radioactive waste broker, or a licensed low-level radioactive waste disposal facility. These facilities may charge a fee for this service.

           Within 30 days of disposing of a sign, the general licensee is required to file a report to the NRC or Agreement State that includes:

• the device manufacturer’s (or distributor’s) name, model number and serial number;
• the name, address, and license number of the person receiving the device; and
• the date of the transfer.

           Reports should be sent to Director, Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs, ATTN: GLTS, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555-0001.

The RSO is responsible for ensuring compliance with care and disposal of Radioactive exit signs, and for ensuring any reporting and record keeping. See January 2009 NRC Fact Sheet on Radiocative Exit Signs.

NRC, 10 CFR 70, Domestic Licensing of Special Nuclear Material

Task:

License # SNM-164 - Maintain the license that authorizes univeristy to receive title to, own, acquire, deliver, receive, possess, use, or transfer special nuclear material.

Date last renewed/submitted: 5/6/02
Next due date: 5/31/12

NRC, 10 CFR 40, Domestic Licensing of Source Material

Task:

Date last renewed/submitted: 7/14/03
Next due date: 7/31/13

Task:

License # 08-02075-03 - Maintain the license that authorizes the university to manufacture, produce, transfer, receive, acquire, own, possess, or use byproduct material.

Date last renewed/submitted: 7/9/04
Next due date: 7/31/15